A 26-year-old working as domestic help at a house in Malad allegedly tried to kill his employer’s four-year-old son on Friday evening because the employer refused to increase his salary by Rs 300.

A 26-year-old working as domestic help at a house in Malad allegedly tried to kill his employer’s four-year-old son on Friday evening because the employer refused to increase his salary by Rs 300.

The accused, Vakilram Das alias Prashant, had been working for businessman Naresh Dhanamiya for three years, police said.

Fifty-year-old Dhanamiya lived with his wife and son, Nirbhay, in Corner Stone building at Malad (East).

“Prashant had earlier complained about having to do too much work and demanded a hike of Rs 300 in his wages,” said Ajit Patil, deputy commissioner of police (Zone XII).

The Dhanamiyas, however, refused to increase his salary saying they had done it last year. “As his demands were not met, Prashant decided to teach his employers a lesson by taking his anger out on Nirbhay,” Patil said.

On Friday evening, when the Dhanamiyas were not at home, Prashant allegedly attacked Nirbhay with a knife.

The four-year-old boy suffered minor cuts on his hands and legs. Prashant also attempted to strangulate the boy using a rope.

Prashant loitered around the house, as the boy lay wounded. He was unattended to for four hours because his parents were at work, unaware of the incident.

“When Nirbhay’s mother came home at night she noticed the cuts and black marks on his neck. When she probed, a shocked and scared Nirbhay narrated the incident to her,” said Patil.

Nirbhay was rushed to the hospital. The family approached the Kurar police, who arrested Prashant on Friday night.

“Prashant first denied the charges but later said he had only slapped Nirbhay,” Patil said.

“We are now waiting for Nirbhay to get better so that we can take his statement.”

The police have registered a case of attempt to murder. Prashant will be produced in court on Sunday, Patil said.